THE Strood Tunnel will close for about a year so that it can be restored to full working order.

A series of limestone falls in the 180-year-old former canal tunnel hit operations through its one and a half mile length.

Repairs must be carried out to allow fast rail operations to resume, councillors on the support services committee of Medway Council have been told.

Work will not start until September. When it is finished the Strategic Rail Authority hopes a 70mph limit will be possible.

Railtrack warned last summer that a lengthy shutdown was likely to line the tunnel and prevent further rock falls. Buses would take passengers from Strood to Higham.

The biggest collapse was two years ago when a 30ft hole suddenly opened up on a fruit farm at Strood. The hole brought earth and rocks crashing more than 80ft to the track bed.